Charu Gandhi, founder and director of international design studio Elicyon, has identified the five defining design directions shaping homes in 2026

Insights, drawn from Elicyon’s ongoing projects and conversations with global clientele, highlight an evolution of luxury that balances wellness, entertainment, craftsmanship and intelligent living

The rise of the professional home kitchen

Functionality and elegance are merging in next-generation kitchens. Alongside the showstopper kitchen, homeowners are increasingly seeking fully equipped, back-of-house butler kitchens, complete with professional-grade appliances, staging areas, and multiple dishwashers. These support seamless entertaining, while allowing the front kitchen to remain a place for enjoyment, for entertaining and relaxation

“Clients want to host beautifully without the performance of cooking interfering with the guest experience. The butler’s kitchen is becoming as integral as the main kitchen itself,” explains Charu. This heightened culinary focus extends to transparent refrigeration and walk-in cold rooms, where fresh produce is displayed like an artisanal market. “A fridge is no longer a hidden utility, it’s becoming a curated visual showcase, offering both function and beauty.”

Wellness suites become everyday sanctuaries

Wellbeing is moving far beyond gyms and spas into holistic home wellness suites. These now incorporate sonariums, fusing steam and sauna, alongside hyperbaric chambers, LED light therapy rooms, cryotherapy spaces and plunge pools, heightening the home wellness space into one that nurtures holistic wellbeing

The design emphasis is on recovery as much as exertion. “Health optimisation is no longer occasional, it’s part of daily life. Our clients want homes that actively support longevity, vitality, and wellbeing,” says Charu

Entertaining returns with intimacy and glamour

2026 will see a revival of sophisticated entertaining at home, with wine walls, bespoke bars, and glass-fronted display cabinets providing a refined backdrop. These spaces reflect a desire for conviviality and curated indulgence. “We are seeing a return to beautifully crafted bar areas – intimate, elegant, and designed for connection.”

This extends beyond interiors into resort-style outdoor living, where covered terraces, fire pits and fully equipped outdoor kitchens create year-round spaces for entertaining. Overhead heating and seamless indoor–outdoor transitions are ensuring comfort matches atmosphere

From garages to car galleries

Luxury homes are embracing the car gallery as a statement of design and identity. Far from being simply functional storage, these spaces are architecturally considered, climate-controlled and often feature integrated lighting and display systems. “We have noticed that for many of our clients, their car collection is an extension of their personal aesthetic. Housing it in a gallery-like environment reflects this appreciation for beauty, engineering and craftsmanship,” says Charu.

These spaces are evolving to be social too, part showroom, part lounge, where automotive passion and lifestyle intersect

Craft, light and materiality define elegance

While technology and wellness advance rapidly, material choices remain anchored in natural warmth and simplicity. Blonde timbers, ivory tones and textured finishes continue to dominate, paired with an increased focus on architectural detailing as the decorative element itself. “We’re celebrating restraint, where the architecture and materiality hold the beauty, rather than layering excessive ornamentation,” explains Charu.

Lighting, too, is taking centre stage as a transformative force. “The right light not only enhances materials but alters mood, rhythm and atmosphere, making it one of the most powerful design tools in our palette,” she adds

Elicyon has established a reputation for creating luxurious, bespoke interiors for private, commercial and developer clients, both in the UK and internationally. See more of the studio’s work here

(lead shot photo credit: Nick Rochowski)